In order to curb air pollution, congestion and to reduce time taken to get commercial vehicles enter Delhi, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Monday inaugurated 'radio frequency identification device' (RFID) system at DND toll plaza.

With the inauguration of the project, 13 main toll plazas situated at different entry points to Delhi became functional, leaving behind the days of long waiting at the entry points and related traffic jams, a senior SDMC official said.

This is the second critical project after commissioning of the Eastern and Western peripheral roads which helped in avoiding the entry of those trucks and commercial vehicles not destined to enter Delhi, the official said.

"The RFID based toll system comprises of 58 RFID lanes and 33 free lanes; 40,000 commercial vehicles have obtained RFID tags after their pre-registration. A web portal has also been setup to enable the users to recharge their individual RFID tag accounts and keeping track of their transactions, the official said, adding that the sensor of RFID system can read the tag on the commercial vehicle and allow entry of vehicles in Delhi without human intervention.

The RFID tag will allow for a database to be prepared of the vehicle and the owner; this will improve compliance in the future as defaulting vehicles can be penalized, he added.

The 13 entry points cater to the entry of around 85 per cent of traffic entering Delhi. With the introduction of RFID system, all vehicles will require pre-registration, when the age of the vehicle will be checked and entered into the system.

As per the directions of the Supreme Court, vehicles, which are over 10 years of age, will not be allowed entry into the city.

To provide fast and reliable new age system to integrate collection of MCD toll tax and ECC (Environment Compensation Charge) at one click Lieutenant Government Anil Baijal said that RFID is a smart and brilliant project and its proper implementation is essential to curb air pollution. "The project is worth appreciable as it is going to minimize the number of commercial vehicles entering Delhi. The vehicular pollution is creating unhealthy atmosphere for the local residents," he said.

Expressing his concern over rising number of vehicles in Delhi, Baijal said that reliable public transport system can bring positive results. "The project which has been made functional today was endorsed by Supreme Court on the recommendations of the EPCA.

He further stated that the collection of huge congestion tax must be utilized for creating green areas. L-G stated that the other measures which could be considered to make environment healthy should be considered and implemented in true sense. The measures he talked about are one way traffic in congested places and no vehicle zones, he added.

Speaking on this occasion EPCA Chairperson, Bhure Lal said that 23 per cent of land area of Delhi has been utilized for constructing roads. "This is enough to draw a conclusion about the fast increasing number of vehicles including personal vehicles. The number of vehicles has been creating longer traffic jams," he said.

SDMC and north Commissioner, Varsha Joshi stated that henceforth, the entry of over ten year old commercial vehicles will not be allowed. Referring to the bad air pollution, she stated that the 13 entry points cater to the entry of around 85 per cent of traffic entering Delhi. "The system facilitates secure and faster transfer of revenue from the concessionaire account to the government. The cameras will also capture the number plates after vehicles thus any defaulter vehicle can be identified and prosecuted," she added.

The RFID based toll system has become functional at Kundli, Rajokari, Tikri, Aya Nagar, Kalindi Kunj, Kapasehra, Shahdara (Main), Shahdara (Flyover), Ghazipur (Main), Ghazipur (Old), DND Flyway, Badarpur-Faridabad (Main) and Badarpur-Faridabad (Flyover) toll plazas.